Security Gurus Brainstorm

THE NATIONAL Security Coordinator, Dr. Sam Amoo-Ghartey has assured Ghanaians that the nation's security system is committed to ensuring a peaceful atmosphere for free and fair elections in December.

The security coordinator, who was speaking at the opening ceremony of a joint military/police exercise dubbed “Exercise Peace Angel” (EPA), noted that the inauguration of the national elections task force, which comprised the police, military, immigration, prisons and other security agencies was one of the systems set in place to safeguard the nation's security and peace.

The task force has been decentralized and replicated in all 10 regions and operates with non-political appointees as chairmen.

Eight sub-committees have since been set up to plan, strategize and manage specific issues within the framework of the responsibilities of the task force under the funding of government.

The EPA is to train participants, who are high-ranking personnel of the various security agencies, who would then train others at the regional and district levels.

The exercise, among other objectives, is aimed at taking participants through the anticipated procedures of the military, police, the national elections task force and the other agencies before, during and after the elections.

The director of operations at the National Electoral Commission, Mr. Albert Kofi Arhin revealed that a number of score boards have been donated to the Electoral Commission, to be placed at vantage points throughout the regions, adding that security would be needed not only at the polling stations, collation centres among others, but also at places where the score boards would be mounted.

He noted that the EC was prepared and doing everything possible to make the system work.

The general officer commanding, Southern Command, Brigadier General Emmanuel Okyere, observed that peace was a scarce commodity especially in Africa which must be safeguarded.

“Should people know the devastating effects of war they would do well to preserve the peace Ghana was enjoying now,” he stated.

He expressed hope that on Election Day the public would exercise their franchise peacefully and observed that peace is achieved by the goodwill of the people, adding that the public must therefore be prepared since he who wants peace must prepare for it.

The IGP, Mr. Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, who is also the chairman of the elections task force, noted that despite the limited personnel his outfit would do everything possible to achieve the needed result.

By Rocklyn Antonio